Australian news and politics live: Jess Wilson new Victorian Liberal Leader, Gurmesh Singh wins NSW Nationals

A TPG Telecom customer has tragically died after not being able to connect to triple-0 emergency services.

The Sydney-based customer, who was using a Lebara service on a Samsung device, passed away on November 13, and the telco was informed of the incident on Monday afternoon by NSW Ambulance.

TPG said at the time of the attempted contact with the triple-0 service, the mobile network was operational and no outages were occurring.

An early investigation conducted by the telco suggests that the failed calls were due to the customer’s Samsung device operating on outdated software that was not compatible with making triple-0 calls on the network.

“Customer safety remains our highest priority. This is a tragic incident, and our condolences and thoughts are with the individual’s family and loved ones,” TPG Telecom Managing Director and CEO, Inaki Berroeta, said in a statement.

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New Victorian Liberal Leader Jess Wilson says ousted Brad Battin will play a “key role” in the 2026 Victorian State election.

“This morning, the Liberal party room elected me as parliamentary leader unopposed, and I congratulate the team behind me. Sam Groth, Bev McArthur and Evan Mulholland. People who represent all parts of Victoria,” she said after the spill.

“From the outset, can I thank Brad Battin. Brad is a tireless supporter and worker in the Liberal Party.

“We thank him for his work as leader over the past 11 months.”

“I know he will have a key role to play in the team going forward, at the next election, 12 months from now.”

Former Victorian Liberal Leader Brad Battin says he is proud of what he achieved while heading the party after he was voted out in favour of shadow treasurer Jess Wilson.

“I stand continuously proud in the role that I’ve done,” Mr Battin said as he left the party room.

“The Victorian Liberal Party now has a very clear path towards the next election.

“The vote didn’t go my way.”

NSW Nationals have elected Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh as the new leader of the party.

Mr Singh was elected after an uncontested ballot on Tuesday.

More to come....

Brad Battin has been ousted by the Victorian Liberal Party, with former Josh Frydenberg staffer Jess Wilson securing the votes to become the new Opposition Leader.

More to come...

One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson, who is gaining support by the day according to polls, says the Coalition is watching what she does and copying her.

Speaking about the recent decisions made on net zero, Senator Hanson said the Coalition has taken her lead but not “gone far enough”.

“They should be getting out of the Paris Agreement because you can’t have one without the other,” Senator Hanson told ABC Radio National.

“Everything we have put in place, the Coalition has followed our lead.

“One Nation is gathering more and more support because the clear-cut policies that we are putting out there, we’ve been consistent with what the Australian people want.

“They (voters) don’t like their policies, they don’t like the direction the country is going.”

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Less than a year after Brad Battin was chosen to head the party, the Opposition Leader could face a partyroom spill as soon as 8.30am on Tuesday morning, with a challenge expected from Kew MP Jess Wilson, a former staffer to ex-federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg.

Mr Battin was visited by a delegation of Liberal MPs who told him he had lost partyroom support, with others then calling him to deliver the same message.

Deputy Liberal leader Sam Groth said Mr Battin “absolutely” remained leader when asked by Channel Nine on Monday night, but that “only time will tell” if he would continue in the top job.

Mr Groth’s position would also be opened to a vote if the leadership is spilled.

The Victorian Opposition has slipped in recent polls despite the three-term Labor Government grappling with soaring crime and state debt.

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Controversial Premier Daniel Andrews won the Victoria State election in 2014, starting an era of Labor stronghold in Victoria.

After Liberal Leader Denis Napthine was defeated, the party has struggled to find someone who could convince Victorians that Labor was the wrong choice.

Matthew Guy, Michael O’Brien, Matthew Guy again, John Pesutto, and then Brad Battin have led the party over the 11 years of Andrews and Allan Labor Governments, with the Liberals failing to secure support in 2018 and 2022.

With 2026 bringing another chance for the Victorian Liberal Party to win back power, something they have not held since late 2014, a leadership spill could see the party taken in a new direction.

The options? Current Victoria Opposition Leader, Mr Battin, or Liberal MP Jess Wilson.